Circuit breaker



May 22,

L. L. BROWN CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed July 1 1927 Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED'STATES LLOYD L. BROWN, 01 SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed July 12, 927. Serial No. 205,126.

My 1 present invention relates to an improved circuit breaker of the foot operated type, designed for use as a portable switch mechanism in an electric lamp'circuit, and

preferably located upon the floor in position to be accessible to the foot of theoperator.

The circuit breaker is of the normally closed type, and is particularly adapted for lamp in the circuit as for instance in a room use in temporarily extinguishing an electric or chamber where an optometrist is making examinations and tests of the eyes, and it is desired that the illuminated room be dark-' ened for short periods during the test or examination. Means are provided whereby the circuit breaker-is normally held closed for the purpose of illuminating/the lamp, and the circuit breaker; is automatically closed after it has been opened and released from the open osition.

A cut out switch is also provided in the electric circuit by means of which the lamp may be extinguished or illuminated regardless of the circuit breaker.

The invention consists in certain novel .combinations and arrangements of parts in volvingv a depressible' contact member of the circuit breaker and the construction of the latter, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. Figure l is-a plan view of the circuit breaker. l

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view at .line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagram of the wiring of an electric lamp circuit with the circuit breaker of my invention included therein.

Figure tie a top plan view of the split sleeve forming the stationary contact member of the circuit breaker V Figure 5 is a side view of the split sleeve of Figure 4. y

In Figure .3 the circuit breaker as awhole is designated by the numeral 1 and is 1ocated on the floor, or on other suitable su ort, where it is accessible to the foot of t e tometrist or other person, for controlling P .o t e light 2 which is shown as locatednear extinguishing the lamp regardless of the circuit breaker.

It will be understood that the lamp is normally illuminated and thecircuit' breaker is normally closed to complete the circuit, but by a light pressure of the foot on the circuit breaker, the latter may be opened and the lamp extinguished during the period .of time the foot pressure is applied to the circuit breaker. After the foot pressure is removed, the circuit breaker is automati cally restored to normal .position and the lamp is illuminated. v

The circuit breaker, as best seen in Fig-. ure 2, includes an annular body portion or cast metal ring 7, in the top and bottom edges of which are provided countersinks or grooves 8 and 9 respectively.

The top and bottom portions for the annular body member are designated as -10 and 11, and these portions, in the form of circular disks have their annular edges seated in the grooves of the body and secured therein by retaining rings 12 and 13 and screws 14.

The top and bottom parts of the annular body are preferably of concavo-convex shape and fluted or formed with a series of concentric rings, with the convex face ofpart on the exterior side of the device. The top part 10 is flexible so that it may be depressed, and may be resilient in nature so that it will readily return to normal position when the depressing pressure is released therefrom; To compensate for the flattening movement of the top part or pres- The bottom of the circuit breaker is pro-K vided with a felt cushion or pad 16 to prelOU vent scratching the floor and to render the 1 movement noiseless as the device is moved on the floor.

The two retaining rings 12 and 13 have their. outer faces flush with the top and bottom edgesof the annular body and the 1 center parts of both the top. and bottom portions. of the body project beyond the planes or outer faces of the retaining rings in order that the devicemay more readily be moved across the'floor and to facilitate the footpressure when applied at the center of the pressure plate for opening the circuit breaker.

The circuit breaker includes a depressible or movable contact member and a fixed or stationary contact member, the latter being connected to the wire 5 and the former to wire 4, both of which wires enter the hollow body of the circuit breaker through the bushing 17 in the. side of the body. The wire 5 is connected to a terminal screw 18' that is threaded in .the wall, of a split sleeve 19 forming the stationary or fixed contact member. This member is fashioned as a split sleeve for the purpose of compensating for wear and is provided with perforated ears or lugs 20, screw 21 and nut 22 in order that it may be clamped to reduce the diamconnected to a terminal screw 28 whichpasses through a circular pressure-block 29, of insulating material, that issecured at the central, inner side of the pressure plate 10 by screw 30.. The under side of the block' has a socket to receive the plunger 31 which is fashioned with asocket head 32,

I a'nd'a neck bushin 33, of insulating material encases the p unger. The bushing is located between the block and the socket. head, and the bushing and socket head are of proper exterior diameter to reciprocate through thebore'23 of the split sleeve. A

, spring 34 is interposed between the socket headandthe insulating plate26 to normally hold the movable. contact member elevated and with the socket headin frictional and electrical contact with 'the wall of the bore,

bottom plate and the flange sleeve.

When the foot pressure is applied to the top or pressure plate 10 of the circuit breaker, the movable contact member is bodily -depressed against tension of, the spring 34, causing the socket head to pass from engagement with the wall of the bore 23 and thus break the circuit, and bringing the insulated bushing 33 in contact with the wall of the bore. As long as the movable member is held depressed, the lamp is extinguished, but when pressure is released from the pressure plate 10, the spring liftsthe movable Contact member to elevated position to close the circuit.

Having thus fully. described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is' 1. In a-normally closed circuit breaker the combination with a hollow body having concavo-convex .top' and bottom portions with the top portion forming a "movable concavo-convex plates having their free edges in said grooves and retaining rings I fornsa'id edges, a fixed contact member secured. to one of said plates, one of said' plates being movable relative to its retaining ring and annular body, and a movable contact member secured to the movable plate.

3; In. a circuit bri'eaker the' combination it with a split sleeve and itsclamping means".

forming a stationary contact member,.of a

movable member comprising'a socket head normally in frictional and electrical contact with said sleeve, a spring between. :,the .socke't head and a portion of the stationary member, a plunger on the head, an insulatedv bush g on the plunger, and a .ber secured on the plun 'er.

In testimony whereof f L OY JJ RO pressure mem 

